Storage container for a wreath

ABSTRACT

A container for storing annular articles, such as a Christmas wreath. The container includes a base member and a lid member pivotally attached thereto. The base member includes an upstanding portion spaced from a side wall portion thereof for receipt of a portion of an annular article therebetween. A latch member secures the lid member to the base member. A removable divider may be received in the base member for receipt of small objects.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to containers and in particularto containers that may be used to store annular objects such asChristmas wreaths and the like, and small objects or ornamentsassociated therewith.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to containers that are specificallydesigned for the storage of annular objects, such as Christmas wreaths.It is desirable that such containers be able to stand on one of itssides and be stackable one on top of the other. It is also desirablethat such containers be able to store smaller objects, such as Christmasornaments. It is further desirable that such containers be light weightand easy to transport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there isprovided a -container for storing annular articles, such as a Christmaswreath, and smaller articles or ornaments associated therewith. Thecontainer includes a base member defining a central area for receipt andstorage of a generally annular article, such as a Christmas wreath, anda lid member pivotally secured to the base member for movement betweenan open position allowing access to the central area of the base memberand a closed position in covering relationship with the central area ofthe base member.

The base member includes a bottom wall and an upstanding side wall thatdefines a central area for receipt and storage of the generally annulararticle. The side wall includes a generally curved section and agenerally flat section. The bottom wall includes an upstanding portionspaced from and in facing relationship with the generally curved sectionfor receipt of the generally annular article therebetween.

The lid member preferably includes a top wall and a side wall defining acentral area for receipt and storage of at least a portion of agenerally annular article therebetween. The side wall has a generallycurved section and a generally flat section. The generally flat sectionof the side wall of the lid member is pivotally attached to the flatsection of the side wall of the base member so that the lid member ismovable between an open position allowing access into the open area ofthe base member and a closed position in covering relationship with thecentral area of the base member, with the side wall of the base memberin contact with the side wall of the lid member.

A latch member is provided for securing the lid member in its closedposition. The latch member is preferably generally U-shaped incross-section and includes a first leg portion pivotally attached to thecurved section of the side wall of the base member and a second legportion that is engageable with a ledge portion formed in the side wallof the lid member. The ledge portion includes at least one detentportion for engagement with the second leg portion of the latch member.

The bottom wall of the base member is preferably formed with at leasttwo foot portions extending outwardly therefrom. The top wall of the lidmember is preferably formed with corresponding recess portions intowhich the foot portions are received when two storage containers arestacked one on top of the other.

The storage container may be provided with a removable divider memberthat is received in the central area of the base member for receipt ofsmall objects, such as Christmas ornaments and the like. The dividermember is received between a plurality of retaining members formed inthe base member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a storagecontainer in accordance with the present invention in its closedorientation;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the storage container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the storage container of FIG. 1 in itsopen orientation;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of two storage containers stacked one ontop of the other;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of two stacked containers taken along line5-5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a partial vertical sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG.2 showing the latch portion of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial vertical section taken through the hinge portion ofthe container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken through the latch portion of thecontainer with the latch in its open position;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 8 with the latch about tomove into its closed position;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 8 with the latch in itsclosed position;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the latch member and a portion of thebase member, as viewed from the bottom;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view, partially broken away, showing thecontainer of FIG. 1 hung from a nail in a vertical member;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 supported on ahorizontal surface;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the base member showing an insert dividermember positional therein; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the container being transported bya person indicated in dotted lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1-15, a container constructed in accordance withthe invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10.Container 10 includes a base member 12 and a lid member 14.

Base member 12 includes a bottom wall 16 and an upstanding side wall 18that defines a central area 20. Side wall 18 includes a generally curvedsection 22 and a generally flat section 24 in facing relationship to thecurved section 22. Sections 22 and 24 are connected together by sidesections 26 and 28. Section 24 has a cut-out portion 30 formed therein.The central area 22 has a circular recessed portion 32 formed therein.An upstanding portion 34 extends from the recessed portion 32.Upstanding portion 34 is generally curved and spaced from section 22 ofside wall 18. As best seen in FIG. 10, upstanding portion 34 is definedby a pair of recessed portions 36 formed in the bottom wall 16. Inaccordance with a preferred embodiment, the height of side wall 18decreases as it extends from section 24 to the middle of section 22.

The lid member 14 includes a top wall 36 and a side wall 38 defining acentral area 40. Side wall 38 includes a generally curved section 42 anda generally flat section 44 in facing relationship to the curved section42. Sections 42 and 44 are connected together by side sections 46 and48. Section 44 is formed with a portion 52 that is dimensioned to bereceived in cut-out portion 30. The central area 40 has a circularrecessed portion 50 that corresponds to the recessed portion 32. Theheight of the side wall 38 preferably increases as it extends fromsection 44 to section 42.

The lid member 14 is pivotally mounted to the base member 12 to permitthe lid member to move between an open position allowing access into thecentral area 32 of the base member, and a closed position, in coveringrelationship with the central area of the base member, with the sidewall of the base member in contact with the side wall of the lid member.The outer edge of portion 52 of section 44 that is received in cut-outportion 30 is pivotally attached to section 24 in a conventional manner.As seen in FIG. 1, the configuration of the lid member and the basemember is such that the height of the container in its closedorientation is suitable for stacking.

The base member is provided with a latch member 54 for securing the lidmember in its closed position. Referring to FIGS. 3, 6 and 8-11, section22 of the side wall of the base member has an opening 56 through whichlatch member 54 extends. Latch member 54 is generally U-shaped incross-section and has a first leg portion 58 that is pivotally receivedin openings 61 in section 22 (FIG. 11) and a second leg portion 60 forengagement with the lid member. Leg portion 60 is formed with a pair ofspaced apart detent portions 62 which cooperate with a ledge portion 64formed in a cut-out portion 66 of the lid member. Referring to FIGS.8-10, As the latch member 58 pivots into its closed position, the detentportions 62 pass over the ledge portion 64 into a closed, retainedposition. In order to move the latch member from its closed positioninto its open position, the distal end of the leg portion 60 is liftedto release the detent portions 62 from the ledge portion 64.

The base member 12 is formed with a pair of spaced apart foot portions67 that extend outward from the bottom surface thereof. The lid member14 is formed with a pair of spaced apart recess portions 68 that areoriented and dimensioned to receive the foot portions 67 of an adjacentcontainer that is stacked on top thereof. In the stacked orientation,the portion 32 of base member 12 is received in the portion 50 of lidmember 14.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 12, the base member is formed with a key hole70 for hanging the container from a hook or nail. As best seen in FIG.15, the recessed portions 36 are configured to serve as a handle tofacilitate the carrying of the container. Upstanding portion 34 servesto hold the annual articles in place.

The side walls of the base member and the lid member are configured sothat a plurality of base members and a plurality of lid members may benested one within the other.

Container 10 is designed for the storage of annular articles, such as aChristmas wreath. The wreath is positioned within the base member sothat a portion thereof is located and supported between the upstandingportion 34 and the curved section 22 of the side wall of the basemember.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, container 10 mayalso be utilized to store and organize small articles, such as Christmasornaments and the like. Referring to FIG. 14, base member 12 isconfigured for receipt and retention of a divider member 72. Dividermember 72 comprises a plurality of intersecting members 74 that definestorage areas 76 therebetween. The storage areas may be of any desiredsize or shape. The base member is formed with a pair of spaced apart ofangle shaped retaining members 74 adjacent curved section 22 and a pairof spaced apart channel members 80. The corners of the divider members74 are received between the members 78 and the edges of the members 74are received in the channel members 80.

It should be appreciated that a container constructed according to theconcepts of the present invention, as described herein, provides aunique combination of features that are particular useful for thestorage of annular objects, such as a Christmas wreath and the like andthe storage of related smaller objects.

While the above sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention,the invention is not to be so restricted. Other embodiments, which willbe apparent to those skilled in the art and which use the teachingsherein set forth, are intended to be within the scope and spirit of thepresent invention.

1. A storage container for the storage of wreaths and the like,comprising; a base member having a bottom wall and an upstanding sidewall defining a central area for receipt and storage of at least aportion of a generally annular article, said side wall having agenerally curved section and a generally flat section, said bottom wallhaving an upstanding portion spaced from and in facing relationship tosaid generally curved section for receipt of a portion of a generallyannular article therebetween, and a lid member having a top wall and aside wall defining a central area for receipt and storage of at least aportion of a generally annular article therebetween, said side wallhaving a generally curved section and a generally flat section, saidflat section of the side wall of said lid member being pivotallyattached to said flat section of the side wall of said base member sothat said lid member is movable between an open position allowing accessinto said central area of said base member and a closed position incovering relationship with said central area of said base member.
 2. Thestorage container of claim 1, wherein said base member is provided witha latch member for latching engagement with a portion of said lid memberwhen said lid member is in its closed position.
 3. The storage containerof claim 2, wherein said latch member is pivotally attached to a portionof the curved section of the side wall of said base member and saidcurved section of the side wall of said lid member is formed with aledge portion for engagement with said latch member.
 4. The storagecontainer of claim 3, wherein said latch member is generally U-shaped incross-section and has a first leg portion pivotally attached to saidbase member and a second leg portion engageable with at least one detentportion associated with said ledge portion, when the said latch memberis in engagement with said ledge portion.
 5. The storage container ofclaim 1, wherein said bottom member has at least two foot portions thatextend outwardly therefrom and said top wall has corresponding recessportions into which said foot portions are received when two storagecontainers are stacked one on top of the other.
 6. The storage containerof claim 1, wherein said bottom wall has an opening formed for receiptof a hanging member therein to hang the storage member in a verticalorientation.
 7. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the basemembers are nestable one within the other.
 8. The storage container ofclaim 1, wherein the lid member are nestable one within the other. 9.The storage container of claim 1, wherein said upstanding portion ofsaid bottom wall is formed as a recessed portion formed in the bottomwall that may function as a handle for holding the storage container.10. The storage container of claim 9, wherein said recessed portioncomprises at least two portions positioned adjacent one another.
 11. Thestorage container of claim 1, wherein a divider member is removablereceived within said central area for receipt and storage of smallobjects.
 12. The storage container of claim 11, wherein said insertmember comprises a plurality of intersecting members that define storageareas therebetween.
 13. The storage container of claim 11, wherein aplurality of retaining members are provided in said base member forreceipt of said insert member there between.
 14. The storage containerof claim 11, wherein said retaining members include a pair of spacedapart angle members and a pair of spaced apart channel members.